Early Christianity and the Dark Ages: The Age of Pioneers

Introduction

Before the Roman Catholic Church had experienced division, it was a unified whole. There was centralization of belief, conduct and forms of worship. This began in Nicaea (325 A.D.), and continued until the ninth century, through many leaders who championed the faith from its roots in the person of Christ, Scripture, and early liturgical forms. It was a very difficult time for Christendom because the Church had to conquer those who opposed her orthodoxy, and at the same time defend herself from many barbarian invasions during the Dark Ages (a time described as one filled with widespread illiteracy, low levels of cultural activity, and towards eventual disintegration of the Roman Empire). In the midst of all this 'darkness', many pioneers championed the Light of Christ by inducing religious fervor and an intellectual spirit.

Learning from the wisdom of the past

There is a lot of wisdom to be gained from the study of how the early Christian faith had to organize and unify herself. Scholars may discover insights needed for present day missions to work for Christian unity and ecumenism.
Below is a list of important persons and events that shaped the early direction of Christianity (those who kept the Light of Christ aflame):

• Nicaea (325 A.D.) and St. Athanasius
• Constantinople (381 A.D.), St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory Nazianzen, and St. Gregory of Nyssa
• Pioneers of the monastic movement: St. Anthony of Egypt, Pachomius, St. Paul the Hermit, St. Hilarion, St. Martin of Tours
• The early Fathers of the Church: St. Ambrose, St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Jerome
• Chalcedon (451 A.D.), Pope St. Leo the Great, and St. Cyril of Alexandria
• St. Benedict and his monastic movement
• The Irish monastic movement: St. Columba of Iona, St. Brigid of Kildare, St. Ita of Killeedy, and St. Columban
• St. Gregory the Great: Benedictine Pope-Monk
• The missions to Britain (597 A.D.) and St. Augustine of Canterbury
• Scholars, monks and bishops who preserved Catholicism: St. Isidore of Seville, St. Benedict Biscop, and St. Cuthbert
• The missions to the Germans (ca. 719 A.D.): St. Boniface, St. Chrodegang of Metz, and St. Walburga
• Nicaea (ca. 787 A.D.), Venerable Bede, and St. John Damascene

This is just a sample list of Christianity's leaders and important Church events from 325 A.D. to 787 A.D. As you search and research online, more names, and other important events will show and reveal how rich and influential Christ and His message meant to all in the world at that time.